Recently, I visited the Country of Curaçao and met with Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, the President and members of Parliament, U.S. Consul General Ramón “Chico” Negrón, and other government and business leaders.
Recently, I visited the Country of Curaçao and met with Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, the President and members of Parliament, U.S. Consul General Ramón “Chico” Negrón, and other government and business leaders.
At the conclusion of the visit, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, the Honorable Roderick Middelhof and I signed an International Friendship Agreement between Curaçao and the City of Savannah Government
This relationship did not happen overnight. It grew out of the historic 2024 visit of the King and Queen of the Netherlands to Savannah. Representatives from Curaçao then visited Savannah earlier this year, and we have continued working to identify areas where this relationship can produce real opportunities.
We are exploring educational and research partnerships with THE Savannah State University and Savannah Technical College culture and tourism opportunities with the Pin Point Heritage Museum and Visit Savannah workforce development and hospitality with Savannah Tech; port and trade opportunities involving the Georgia Ports Authority and collaboration in sustainability, economic development, marine and coastal research, sports, business and investment.
We expect full-scale delegation visits in 2027 as we move from conversation to collaboration.
Savannah is an international city. We have one of the most important ports in America, world-class educational institutions, a strong tourism economy, tremendous cultural assets and a growing international profile.
So when we can build relationships around the world that create opportunities for our students, businesses, institutions and residents, I believe we should.
Friendship is the foundation. Partnership is the opportunity. Action must be the result.
And ultimately, the success of this agreement will not be measured by the signatures on the paper. It will be measured by what comes from it for the people of Curaçao and Savannah.
